The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1887-04-08
SELECT STORY.
TIE TALE OF A TELEGRAM.
BY KATE PUTNAM osGooD.

.
Maud Estabrook bad just turned to
rctrace her steps up tie av,nne, wbt n
glancing round, she saw young man
emerging from tie shadow of me OF
the great willows that guarded the
gate. As he pulled off his hat with q
low bow, the sunlight brought out the
FURNISHED black of his close.cut hair
ard threw into stronger relief his
bronzed, handsome face, to which O
slight scar on one check gave a touch
OF the romantic pictures ]ue. Sc
thought Maud, after her brief, com
prehensive survey. .-a-.
II beg your pardon" said the strang
er, tanning himself with his straw ha,
as he spoke, ''but can you tell me il
Mr.. Estabrook is here o.
ooh" thought Maud, some of Toms
friends" Then, aloud, "Yes-that is
he lives here, but he isn't at home to
day" ..l ...
As the new conner stood irresolute,
Maud gave him another quick look,
which summed up his whole appear
ance, from his six feet If stature and
the light pedestrian garb that set it
off, to the knapsack hanging over his
broad shoulders. Then she said, hesi
tatingly, "He may be back tonight,
perhaps. Won't you come up to the
house and rest? II is 10 warm! And
my mother will be glad to see any
friend of Toms"
The young man returned her inqnir-
ing glance as he answered, also with
some hesitation: Thanks. 1t is very
warm, certainly. l should be delight
ed to pay my respects to-Mrs. Esta
brook, if she wi permit me-"
| With that he put on his hat again
and the two walked along together
under the blossoming acacia trees, while
he introduced. himself as Marston
Fo!liott, jus. now pedestrianizing in
that region. To which she responded
with the information that she was
Toms sister," .-...
In this way they reached the house.
where Mrs. Estabrook was discovered
in the cool north parlor. She received
her sons friend very Hospitality, invit-
ing him to await Toms return, which
was expected by the next morning at
latest.
| Mr.. Folliott's manner was again
hesitating, as he half glanced toward
Maud. Il really ought not to take
advantage" he began. ....s|
| But Mrs. Estabrook, nervous, ex-
citable woman, given to starts and
broken sentences, interrupted him :
"No, no! Pray don't say SO. Really,
it would relieve my mind, now that
my son is away; and of course Peter
must choose this very time-Maud,
Peter hasn't come back yet? No, not
a man on the place, and this is such a
solitary neighborhood! Burglars and
tramps would have us quite at their
mercy" ..
SO the young man accepted the ur.
gent invitation, and the afternoon wore
away pleasantly, with music and con.
versation, and strolling about the
grounds.
1t was almost tea time. The two
ladies with their guest were sitting on
the breezy piazza when a telegraph
messenger came up the steps, delivered
his yellow covered missive and was off
again like shot out of sight.
"From Tom, probably said Mrs.
Estabrook. 'Mr Folliott,you will ex-
ouse me T.
She broke open the envelope, while
the conversation between the two
young people went on. But it was
suddenly interrupted by an inarliculate
sound from Mrs. Estabrook, ard look
ing around, they saw her white and
trembling. Maud ran to her mother,
and put her arm about her.
81 hope you have resolved no bad
news" began Mr.. Folllott. But as he
advanced, Mrs. Estabrook waved him
back, with poor attempt at a smile.
"Oh no, not bad at all-only little
"a little-unexpected." Then she
conveyed a silent summons to Maud's
anxious eye, adding, with the same
forced lightness, "If you will exonse
our leaving you alone for a moment,
Mr.. Folliott, l have little household
matter to arrange with my daughter.
That is all, indeed 1t is only for a
moment-only for moment, / assure
YOU
As they withdrew she seduluusly re-
turned Mr.. Folliott's bow, all the while
preserving set smile strangely at
variance with her pale face. But no
sooner had they entered the house
than IL dropped away, as she turned TO
her daughter and said in a hollow
whisper,
MAUD, that man is burglar!'
Maud stared at this startling an
DouIcement.
"What man, mamma7
| "That man out there-that Follott.
as he calls himself. He isn't a friend
of Toms. Just read this-from
Amelia"
Maud took the telegram, which was
from her married sister, living some
fifty miles distant. This was what it
contained,
"Have just learned from nurse maid
of suspicious stranger making her ac-
quaintance. Asked all about The
Willows and number of inmates. Seem
ed to know something Of Tom. Tall,
dark, gentlemsnly- looking, and has a
scar on one cheek Look out for him."
"Has scar on one cheek" eohopd
Maud, family, after an instant's blank
silence.
"Oh, Maud, what shall we do 2"
moaned Mrs. Estabrook, sinking into
seat, sand we have actually invited
him to tea-a burglar! Well, for a
friend, I thought he seemed very un.
certain about Tom"
81 noticed that too," answered
Maud, recalling a certain un-
readiness of tone and manner which
had struck her as strange at the time.
Mamma" she continued, "we must
send Bridget or Maggie over to the
village for help
"No," almost SCREENED Mrs. Esta
brook, mot another person must leave
the house Oh, how could Peter
choose the very day Tom was gone 7
When he knows how nervous am,
too l--and to think | told that--that
deSDerdd0 out there. that there want